Coronavirus Pandemic: Flying Pig Marathon moved to October weekend

The Flying Pig Marathon, the 22nd running of which was scheduled for May 1-3, has been moved to October 9-11 because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, event organizers announced Monday.

Safety concerns for the event have traditionally been evaluated with adverse weather and terrorism in mind for more than 50,000 participants, volunteers and staff on race weekend, organizers said.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic and a participant field that represents all 50 states and nearly 30 international countries, “our ability to produce a safe event for our Flying Pig family, Greater Cincinnati community and society has been compromised,” organizers said in a statement released to media.

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“We feel it’s our social and moral responsibility to contribute to the COVID-19 solution and will adhere to the CDC’s updated guidance for canceling mass events for the next eight weeks,” according to the statement.

Event organizers said the decision is one that places the health and safety of individuals above all else.

“This includes the more than 300 organizations that depend on our financial contribution of proceeds. It includes disappointing our loyal (and new) participants that have been looking forward to and giving so much time and dedication to training.

Organizers said those thoughts led to the decision to postpone the Flying Pig Marathon until the Oct. 9-11 weekend.

Organizers are giving participants four options to continue their marathon experience:

Virtual Race: Complete the Flying Pig events on your own this spring with a virtual race and receive your medal and shirt. Organizers said they are working with registration partner Race Roster and ASICS to provide a virtual experience including a free ASICS Studio three-month membership, the ability to track your race and submit your results. Registration for the virtual race will remain open.

Postponement: The weekend of Oct. 9-11 will feature the Queen Bee Half Marathon as well as the Flying Pig. If you want to complete the virtual and run in October, you will need to register again.

Donation: You can convert your registration to a donation and receive the tax write off as well as 25% off a future registration to any Pig Works event in the next year (2020 FCC3, 2020 Hudepohl Brewery Run 14K/7K, 2020 Queen Bee, 2021 Bockfest 5K and 2021 Flying Pig Marathon).

Each year the Flying Pig Marathon’s events raise more than a $1 million for charity and over the last 21 years the Pig has helped participating charities to raise more than $18 million.

Deferral: Free deferral to any of the future Flying Pig Marathon weekends scheduled for 2021, 2022 or 2023.

Organizers said they have a no-refund policy.

Select an option by April 1.